Coal-hole cover



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

JOHN GAULT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO WM. HaMOORE, OF LOWELL,

MASSACHUSETTS.

COAL-HOLE COVER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 32,865, dated July 23, 1861.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN GAULT, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and use- 3 ful Improvement in Vault-Covers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a vertical section of my invention, taken in the line :0, m, Fig. 2. Fig. 2, a horizontal section of ditto, taken in the line y, y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

The invention consists in an improved arrangement of parts for securing a vault cover in position upon or above the opening as hereinafter fully explained.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention I will proceed to describe it.

A. represents a cast metal thimble which is fitted in the hole B. of the vault and permanently secured therein, the top of the thimble being a little below the surface of the side walk 0. as shown in Fig. 1.

D. is the vault cover, which, when the vault is closed, fits on the top of the thimble A. as shown in Fig. 1, the cover being flush with the side walk C. The cover D. may be of cast-iron and provided with lenses or glasses when light is required to be admitted into the vault through the cover.

To the under side of the cover D. there is attached a bar E. This bar may be of any suitable length, and it passes through a guide or socket F. at the inner side of the upper part of the thimble A. The bar E. is perforated with holes a, through any of which a pin G. may be passed to retain the cover D. ata greater or less elevated position as desired.

When the cover D. is sufficiently elevated articles may be thrown into the vault equally as well as if the cover were entirely removed from the hole, and the cover when elevated being directly above the hole, it serves as a guard or protector and prevents persons falling into the hole. When the cover D. is

closed, the bar E. serves to prevent the cover being casually knocked off the hole.

My invention possesses the following advantages over vault covers previously in use: 1st. But one post is required, afiording far greater facility for putting in the coal. 2nd. The socket is on the inside, whereby the necessity of drilling large socket spaces in the stone sidewalks is avoided. 3rd. I make my single post square or flat so that it cannot turn in the socket and thereby expose the opening so as to endanger travelers. 4th. The use of the inside socket and the single post enables a convenient application of the pin to secure the cover in position when up and to fasten it when down. Besides fastening with a single pin, the necessity of feeling along with the pin to find the hole in the dark, into which it is to be thrust, is avoided.

I am aware that movable vault covers have before been provided with stems by means of which they can be secured upon or at any height above the aperture, and I do not therefore desire to be understood as claiming such a device broadly.

In my invention it is essential that but one stem shall be employed and that the said stem shall work in a socket projecting from the inside or concavity of the thimble or curb and that it shall be so formed, and so fit the socket as to efi ectually prevent the movement of the cover from its correct position above the aperture. I do not therefore desire to be understood as claiming any device in which the parts are not constructed and arranged specifically as above descrlbed such construction and arrangement being essential to the accomplishment of the object which I have in view; but,

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-,. is

The arrangementrof the internal socket F, thimble A, movablec'over 'D, perforated fiat bar E, and pin Gr, all constructed and combined in the manner and for the purposes herein shown and explained.

JOHN GAULT.

Witnesses:

M. M. LIVINGSTON, JAMES LAIRD. 

